Pictured are the Nelson family, Logan, Jody, Nate, Carter, Tom, Renee, Hadley, Brent, Reggie, Vallie, Brayden, Taylen, Amanda and Gavin. (photo sent)

Located south of Wibaux in the “shortgrass country of eastern Montana” is the Nelson Livestock Company, a 113-year-old family business.

Tom and Renee Nelson and their family operate the ranch. The place was originally family owned by Tom’s great-grandparents in 1909 and has remained in the family ever since.

Nelson Livestock raises Simmental, SimAngus and Angus cattle. They started breeding Simmental cattle in 1971 and sold their first set of bulls in 1974.

“We added purebred Angus to our herd in the mid-1990s and now have an established herd of SimAngus cattle. They are very versatile and popular, an ideal cross with many desirable traits,” explained Tom.

Their operation focuses primarily on SimAngus cattle, a combination of Simmental and Angus. Their well-planned crossbreeding program features Americanized Black and Red Simmentals, Red and Black SimAngus, and purebred Black Angus cattle that are selected based on performance, using EPDs, ratios, linear measurements, genomic testing , planned matings, carcass testing and ultrasound to help increase overall beef production.

Nelson Livestock Co. cattle are known to exhibit desirable traits such as muscularity, high cutting ability, good marbling, growth, fertility, maternal power with calving ease and longevity.

According to Tom, using a crossbred cow will give you 30% more production for life and crossbreeding using heterosis is the only “free lunch” in the beef industry.

With Nelson Livestock Co. cattle, you can expect maintenance-free genetics.

“We try to select cattle that work for the commercial man. We don’t feed slowly; our robust forage-based operation is designed to be as close to the conditions of our primary customers as possible. They are tested for the black environment and red SimAngus and Simmental genetics for fail-safe crossbreeding solutions; bred to thrive without additional inputs and produce,” added Tom.

Over the years they have sold cattle, semen and embryos to 30 different states and different countries including Australia, Canada and Mexico.

Nelson Livestock Co. will hold its annual bull sale on Monday, February 14 at its ranch. The sale will also be streamed online via Superior Livestock Auction. For more information on Nelson Livestock Co. or information on bulls for sale, visit their website at http://www.nelsonlivestockco.com.